Washing-machine



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J. SHEPHERD. v

WASHING MACHINE.

No. 388,728. Patented Aug.28, 1888.

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' J. SHEPHERD.

WASHING MACHINE.

. No. 388,728. Patented Aug. 28, 1888 ZIII m 1y I u w iiiiiiiiiiiiiil filli- 1 d n K NITED STATEs PATENT 4 OFFICE.

JOSIAIISHEPHERD, OF JEFFERSONVILLE, OHIO.

WASHING-MACHINE' EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 388,728, dated August. 28, 1888.

Application filed January .25, 1888. Serial No. 261,824. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSIAH SHEPHERD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jefi'ersonville, in the county of Fayette and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in \Vashing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to washing-machines, the object being to economize force and to bring no metallic substance in contact with the clothes, so as to render them liable ,to be corroded thereby; and it consists in the construction and novel combination of parts,hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompa nying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In thedrawings,Figurelisaperspectiveview of a washing-machine embodying my inven tion. Fig.2 is a central vertical section thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail central sectional view at right angles to Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the face of one of the plungers.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A designates the suds-box, preferably of rectangular form, having the hinged door a in its top, with the edges at its mouth rabbeted, as at a, and the edges of the door correspondingly rabbeted, and also packed, so as to makeasteamtight joint when closed.

B is a turn-table, composed of the outer circular plate,b, having the beveled edge I), which rests in a correspondingly-beveled recess, b,

- around the central circular opening in the door a, and the inner circular plate,b,connected to the outer plate by the central pin,b and side bolts, b.

The su'ds box is supported on the legs 0 0, so as to stand clear of the floor, and has no nails, screws, or other metallic parts in its composition to come in contact with the clothes. The turn-table turns freely with an easy motion on its seat.

D D are parallel similar bearing-lugs, standing from the outer plate of the turn-table, and having the oscillating shaft E jou'rnaled centrally thereon.

F is a lever mounted on the said shaft between the bearing-lugs, and having its free or upper end formed into a handle, by means of which to operate the machine.

G G are transverse bars secured to the lever F a suitable distance outward from or above the shaft E, and having their ends pivoted to the plunger-rods h, upon the lower ends of which are fixed the cup-shaped plungers H, which are preferably diametrically opposite each other. Each of said plungers consists of a block, I, having a spherical top, 6, and the vertical recesses i, preferably arranged opposite each other. The said vertical recesses 6 have their months or orifices i rounded on the edges, so that when they beat down on the water in the suds-box the water that does not enter is spread laterally, thereby throwing the hot water and suds over the clothes. The 5 plunger-rods h reciprocate in guide-openings J J in the turn-table, which openings are made of sufficient diameter to accommodate the motion of the plunger-rods as they move up and d0WIl.

By the use of the turn-table the person operating the machine can vary the direction of the stroke at will, and could, in fact, walk around the suds-box, if desirable or necessary, while using the lever-handle F. The particn- 7 5 lar advantage of this arrangement, however, is to allow the working parts to be easily turned, so that the plungers can be brought in contact with the clothes all around the tub without stopping the action of the machine or lifting the lid. This is one of the essential features of the invention. By the simple mechanical arrangement of the operating means for the plungers all the poweris brought to bear directly on the clothes without any 8 waste of power. Furthermore, all the heat and steam are confined in the tub while the work is being done, thus making the results more satisfactory and with less annoyance to the operator than when an open tub is used. 0

The machine, as described, is cheap, effective, and not easily put out of repair, and no metal is intended to be used in its construction to come in contact with the clothes.

Having described my invention, I claim- 5 1. The combination, with the suds-box, of y the lid, the rotatable circular turn table mounted in the lid and forming in connection with the same a complete cover for the sudsbox, the lever mounted on the turntable, and 10o the plunger connected to the lever and extend ing through the turn-table into the suds-box, as specified.

2. The combination, with the suds-box and the cover making a steam-tight joint therewith, of the turn-table attached to the cover, the shaft journaled thereupon, the lugs rising from said turn-table, the lever-handle pivoted on said shaft, the transverse bars secured to said lever above its pivotal point, the plungerrods,and the plungers, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with the suds-box and the lid, of the turntable comprising the upper plate,b,and the lower plate, b,secured together by bolts, the lever mounted on the turn-table, andthe plungers connected to the lever, as set forth.

JOSIAH SHEPHERD.

\Vitnesses:

WM. MoKILLIP, S. S. Moon. 

